Tough Love

OUTLIER

Thunderhoof didn't question how they were getting back to Griffin Rock or when they would arrive at the Bunker, for he was too tired to pay attention. Once they were out of the facility, Optimus transformed and offered Thunderhoof his trailer to rest in during the journey. At first, he didn't think he would fit. Not in bipedal mode, anyway. Both he and Bumblebee transformed and drove into the trailer, doors closing behind them and plunging them in darkness. Thunderhoof felt his spark race in a panic in the enclosed space. A low rev sounded behind him.

"It's alright, Thunderhoof, we're safe now," Bumblebee said.

"I know," the Cervicon replied, not at all convincingly. Inside, he felt Steeljaw's daughter kneading, either to comfort him with her presence, or to mold his seats into a comfy bed.

"I just... I don't know."

"You want to go home, don't you," Bumblebee replied, making a statement rather than asking a question.

Pause.

"Yeah, I do," Thunderhoof admitted. "I don't want to be stuck on Earth again. I don't want to be a human's science experiment. I don't want to be stuffed in a stasis pod and locked away on Cybertron. I don't want to travel the universe and explore or do anything else. I just want to go back to my little piece of paradise. Back to Nova Terra and those idiots."

"Which idiots? You're going to have to be more specific," Bumblebee inquired.

"Who the frag else do yous think I'm referrin' to? Steeljaw and Phantomjaw, for sparks sake!"

"Ah. Right."

"I know they ain't the stupidest Cons around, I'll admit that, but they drive me insane!"

"True, and from what I've seen of Phantomjaw..."

"He's a great big pain in my aft! So annoying! I don't know if I hate him or Steeljaw more!"

"Depends on the day, huh?"

Thunderhoof revs his engine, making his frustration clear to Bumblebee. The yellow and black mech chuckles, knowing the rivalry between the Cervicon and Steeljaw is almost on the same level as his own rivalry with the blue/gray Lupicon.

"How much longer till we arrive at the Bunker?" Thunderhoof asked, changing the subject.

"Honestly, I don't know," Bumblebee replied. He gently pressed his front bumper against the Ex-Con's back bumper.

"How about you get some rest and I'll wake you when we get there?"

"Whatever," Thunderhoof huffed.

He instantly fell into recharge.

– timeskip –

A spark to his system jolts Thunderhoof out of recharge. When he awakens, he panics, feeling the walls on either side of him, penning him in such a way where he can hardly move, reminding him of the cell at MECH. The memories of all the pain he suffered at MECH's hands or in their custody, even without their interference, tricks him into thinking that he's still there. That he and Bumblebee weren't rescued at all.

What if he never escaped?

What if he never saw anyone ever again?

"Thunderhoof?"

"Yip Yip Yip!"

The combined voices of Bumblebee and the pup were able to break through the cloud that had encased Thunderhoof's processor, forcing his optical sensors into operation. Light poured out from behind, illuminating the trailer's interior. On his seats stood Steeljaw's daughter, yellow optics reminding the Cervicon of her father and uncle, focused on his dashboard.